ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
Union Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash R Bhamre Inaugurates the Seminar on 'Leveraging Defence Expenditure as a Tool for Nation Building' at CDM, Secunderabad, today
Union Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash R Bhamre has inaugurated the Seminar on "Leveraging Defence Expenditure as a tool for Nation building" at the College of Defence Management  in Sainik puri, Secunderabad today.
While delivering the inaugural address the Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash R Bhamre said that this type of seminars essentially generate new ideas and invoke thought process amongst practitioners, decision makers and various stakeholders. He pointed that the aspiration of India as it marches ahead towards global prominence and may be even dominance in the near future.
Dr. Subhash R Bhamre opined that the increased investment in the Defence manufacturing, capability and capacity to export Defence equipment, streamlined procurement and offset policy, boost to Research & Development efforts will help the country to develop a strong military at an affordable cost. It also helps to create employment, increase government revenues, reduce fiscal deficit, provide diplomatic leverage and thus contribute to nation building. Speaking on the occassion Rear Admiral Dushyant Singh Chouhan, Commandant, CDM said that the Seminar would lead to two days of intense and invigorating discussions with tangible recommendations to assist the policy makers.
Eminent speakers such Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne , Lieutenant General SL Narasimhan , Adviser NSAB, Former Ambassador RS Kalha, Smt Shobhana Joshi, IDAS , Shri R Tandon, Joint Secretary , Several senior officers of Armed forces have participated in the seminar.
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PIB Headquarters
“800 Folk art programmes in TN to protect and educate girl Children”
A One-day workshop to orient Folk Artists to successfully propagate Government of India's 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme was organised by Regional Outreach Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Chennai today.
The workshop was organised in collaboration with Ministry of Women & Child Development, Govt of India, and Department of Social Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu.
The importance of folk artists in creating awareness among the people on protecting a Girl child and educating her was emphasized in the sessions.
Inaugurating the event, Mrs. V. Amuthavalli, Commissioner of Social Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu said, the government is successfully implementing several programmes to protect, nourish and educate girl children from their birth. The commissioner urged the folk artist troops to effectively take the message across the state in implementing the scheme.
Over 800 programs in next two months have been planned across the state to take the message of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' through folk artists.
Joint Director Mrs B. Sundari, Department of Social Welfare spoke and gave guidelines in dissemination of the message.
Officials from Regional Outreach Bureau, and PIB participated in the programme.
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Ministry of Culture
SBI-NCF-IGNCA sign MoU for Development of Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design at Red Fort, Delhi
Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre of Design , project aims to highlight, promote and celebrate the products that have the Geographical Indication sign, as it signifies a specific geographic origin infused with unique features of that region. Through this initiative, Economic Value Addition to GI products is envisioned and can pave way for GI products from India towards a success story of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Aptly called ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design’, this centre will not only exemplify the most rare and unique crafts of India, but will also provide a collaborative space between the karigars and the designers, to enable design interventions in sync with an exclusive and niche market for the artifacts produced at the Red Fort. As we celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence this year, the Centre will create a rich legacy for future generations, embedded in centuries old traditions. The ABCD project is being implemented by IGNCA, an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture.
Ministry of Culture through National Culture Fund, a trust notified on 28th November, 1996 under charitable Endowments Acts, 1890 has a primary mandate to nurture & establish partnerships in the field of heritage and mobilize resources for the restoration and protection of tangible and intangible heritage. All contributions to NCF are given 100% tax exemption under Section 80G  of the Income Tax Act of 1961.
NCF approached State Bank of India to support the project, SBI has agreed to sponsor the project under CSR with a contribution of Rs. 10 crore for the implementation of ABCD Project.
A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between State Bank of India, Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts and National Culture Fund for Development of Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design at L1 Barrack, Red Fort, Delhi.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Welfare of Asha Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic
An amount of Rs. 1113.21 crore and Rs. 8147.28 crore was released to States/UTs as Grant-in-aid under National Health Mission  for management and control of COVID-19 during financial year 2019-20 and under the “India COVID-19 Health System Preparedness and Emergency Response Package” during financial year 2020-21, respectively.
All States/UTs were requested to ensure that the incentive of Rs. 2000/- to ASHAs for the routine and recurring activities is continued to be paid in full during COVID-19 Pandemic. Further, States/UTs were also asked to continue to pay other task based incentives to ASHAs such as Janani Suraksha Yojana , Home Based Newborn Care , etc., as per National/State norms during the course of this pandemic period as per the activities undertaken by them.
In view of the significant contribution towards the COVID-19 pandemic related work by ASHAs, States were advised to pay an additional incentive of Rs.1000/- per month for those ASHAs engaged in COVID-19 related work using the resources of “COVID-19 Health System Preparedness and Emergency Response Package” from January, 2020.
Under the Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Package, Insurance Scheme has been introduced for all health workers, including ASHAs. This insurance scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs. 50.00 Lakhs in-case of loss of life on account of COVID-19 related duty.
As per reports received from States/UTs, a total no. of 8,78,071ASHAs, ASHA Facilitators and other community volunteers have received supplementary COVID-19 payment till March, 2021. No such delay has been reported by the States/UTs.
43 claims have been disbursed to ASHAs under Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan  Package till June, 2021. No such delay in disbursements has been reported by the States/UTs.
ASHAs do not fall under the Code on Social Security and the Code of Wages, 2020. Theyare envisaged to be community health volunteer and are entitled to task/activity based incentives. ASHAs benefits include the following:
- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan JyotiBeemaYojana  with a benefit Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of death of the insured .
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BeemaYojana  with a benefit of Rs. 2.00 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability; Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial disability .
- Pradhan MantriShram Yogi MaanDhan  with pension benefit of Rs. 3000 pm after age of 60 years .
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, DrBharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in Mumbai
The Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure operations on 08.12.2021 on four Asset Reconstruction Companies . Total of 60 premises spread over Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, etc. have been covered.
The search action has revealed that the ARCs had adopted various unfair and fraudulent trade practices in acquiring the Non-Performing Assets  from the lender banks. It has been found that an unholy nexus existed between the borrower groups and ARCs and in the process, a maze of shell / dummy concerns have been used. The amount at which the NPA has been acquired by the ARC has been found to be far less than the real value of the collateral securities covering the said asset/NPA.
The search has revealed that the minimum cash payout made out by the ARCs to lender bank for acquiring the stressed assets/NPAs have usually been using the funds of the borrower group. Such funds have been routed through several layers of dummy companies controlled by the borrower group or through hawala channels.
It has also been found that the ARCs have been following non-transparent methods in disposal of assets that were acquired by them from the banks. More often than not, the underlying assets had been re-acquired by the same borrower group, albeit at a fraction of their real values. The ARCs are found to have concealed the profits on disposal of the underlying assets by diverting the actual profit to their related concerns, under the garb of consultancy receipts or unsecured loans/investments. Through this method, the ARCs have not only evaded the payment of due taxes but also deprived the lender bank of their share of actual profits.
One of the ARCs was found to be maintaining a parallel set of accounts on Tally accounting software, in a pen drive, recovered from the custody of the trusted employees of the promoter. This parallel set of accounts contained cash transactions aggregating to more than Rs. 850 crore. Handwritten diaries have also been found during the search, containing detailed entries substantiating the deliberate act of layering of transactions by the promoter group and use of a network of middlemen for the same. There are also evidences of routing of funds through offshore structures to acquire the assets.
Cash of Rs. 4 crore has been seized during the search operation. Large volumes of documentary and digital evidence seized are being further analysed for detection of violations under the Income Tax and allied Acts.
Further investigations are in progress.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
The Central Board Trustees  EPF recommends 8.15 % rate of interest to EPF subscribers for FY2022-23
The 233rd meeting of Central Board of Trustees, EPF was held today in Delhi under the Chairmanship of Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Environment, Forest & Climate Change. The Vice-Chairmanship of Shri Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Petroleum & Natural Gas and Co-Vice-Chairpersonship of Ms. Arti Ahuja, Secretary Labour & Employment and the Member Secretary Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Central P F Commissioner were also present during the meeting.
The Central Board recommended 8.15 % annual rate of interest to be credited on EPF accumulations in members’ accounts for the financial year 2022-23. The interest rate would be officially notified in the government gazette after approval of Ministry of Finance, following which EPFO would credit the rate of interest into its subscribers’ accounts.
The CBT recommended the amount balancing both the growth & surplus fund to have safeguards.The recommended rate of interest of 8.15% safeguards the surplus as well as guarantees increase income to members. In fact, the rate of interest at 8.15 % and the surplus of 663.91 Crores is higher than the last year.
The Board’s recommendation involves distribution of more than Rs. 90,000 crores in the members’ account on the total principal amount of about Rs 11 lakh crores which was Rs 77,424.84 crores and Rs 9.56 lakh crores respectively in the FY 2021-22. The total income recommended for being distributed is highest till date. The growth in income and the principal amount is respectively more than 16% and 15% as compared to last financial year 2021-22.
EPFO over the years has been able to distribute higher income to its members, through various economic cycles with minimal credit risk. Considering the credit profile of the EPFO investment, the interest rate of EPFO is higher than other comparable investments avenues available for subscribers. EPFO has consistently followed a prudent and balanced approach towards investment, putting highest emphasis on the safety and preservation of principal with an approach of caution and growth.
EPFO being one of the largest social security organization has stayed true to its objective by maintaining and providing its subscribers with the high assured interest rate even during the periods of volatility in equity and capital markets. A blend of conservative yet progressive approach of investment followed by EPFO has made it a wise option for PF members.
Ministry of Steel
The valedictory function of Vigilance Awareness Week at RINL concludes.
Dr. Praveen Kumari Singh, Additional Secretary, CVC, lauds RINL for its preventive vigilance measures.
The valedictory function of Vigilance Awareness Week held at RINL concluded today at the Visakhapatnam steel plant. Dr. Praveen Kumari Singh, Additional Secretary, Central Vigilance Commission, addressed the gathering and gave a talk on "Multipronged Strategy to Combat Corruption."
Dr. Praveen Kumari Singh deliberated on many topics. She lauded RINL, the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, for its significant and sustained efforts towards a green environment, high living standards, an able work force, technological advancement, and infrastructure. She briefed about various vigilance activities, expectations of the CVC, punitive vs. preventive vigilance, and responsibilities of the country’s young workforce, capabilities, development vs. corruption, ethics, and good governance in building a corruption-free India.
While addressing , Shri Atul Bhatt, CMD, RINL, insisted on transparency in corporate management. He praised the RINL collective for transforming their processes through digitization, which will lead to more efficient and customer-centric working. He has appraised the implementation and utilisation of IT infrastructure at RINL Vizag Steel. In line with the message by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, wherein he mentioned leveraging technology for our functions to combat corruption, CMD RINL indicated that it is on the right path to leveraging technology for corporate excellence.
Chief Vigilance Officer, RINL Shri B Vishwanath, praised the vigilance initiatives at RINL. He insisted on the constant updating of policies and guidelines provided by various government agencies and their adoption into the processes of the organization.
A shadow play on the need to combat corruption was presented to the dignitaries and guests during the function by the RINL officials and their family members.
During the valedictory function, a software online application related to vigilance clearance, developed by the IT and ERP departments of RINL-VSP, was inaugurated by the Additional Secretary CVC. She appreciated RINL officials in this regard, which brings transparency, efficiency, and a customer-centric approach to the process. Messages from the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Central Vigilance Commissioner were read out during the function.
Dr. Praveen Kumari Singh, Shri Atul Bhat, and the Directors of RINL gave away the prizes to the winners in the competitions conducted by RINL-VSP during Vigilance Awareness Week, 2022.
Ministry of Defence
Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, approves several procurement proposals to boost ‘Make in India’
The Defence Acquisition Council  headed by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, in its first meeting of 2020 met today to consider a number of new and ongoing proposals for procuring critically needed platforms and equipment for the Armed Forces.
To promote indigenisation, the DAC accorded approval for procurement of equipment worth over Rs 5,100 crore from indigenous sources. These include sophisticated Electronic Warfare Systems for the Army designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation  and manufactured locally by the Indian industry. These systems will be used in deserts and plains and will provide comprehensive Electronic Support and Counter Measure capabilities to the field formations in both communication and other aspects of Electronic Warfare.
The DAC also approved prototype testing of trawl assemblies designed by DRDO for T-72 and T-90 tanks providing an important indigenous de-mining capability to the Army.
In another significant step, the DAC approved shortlisting of Indian Strategic Partners  and the potential Original Equipment Manufacturers  that would collaborate with SPs to construct six conventional submarines in India. This programme is being progressed under the 'Strategic Partnership Model', promulgated in 2017 to give a major boost to 'Make in India' in Defence Sector. The Strategic partner is expected to play a transformational role in building an eco-system in the country, comprising development entities, specialised vendors and suppliers; especially those from the MSME sector. SP Model also aims at promoting India as a manufacturing hub for defence equipment, in addition to establishing an industrial and R&D eco-system capable of meeting the future requirements of the Armed Forces besides giving boost to exports.
The DAC also accorded approval for inclusion of Innovations for Defence Excellence  in Defence Procurement Procedure. This would provide avenues in capital procurement for the Armed Forces to startups and innovators working for iDEX and provide huge fillip to their budding efforts.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Plogging Should be a Way of Life: Durga Shankar Mishra
Housing Ministry Officials Undertakes Plogging In Delhi
In an early morning initiative for making our cities clean and motivate people to adopt Swachhta as a way of life, more than 300 officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, NDMC, NBCC, CPWD, HPL and other entities under the Ministry took part in a plogging exercise here today. More than 2 hours long exercise was led by Sh Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, M/O Housing and Urban affairs which started from Janpath market area and culminated near Shastri Bhawan, also motivated scores of bystanders, onlookers, taxi drivers, vendors and morning walkers to join in this unique exercise.
More than 500 filled packets of garbage including broken bottles, ice cream and gutkha wrappers, cups, packets, etc were collected as part of the exercise. Sh Mishra used the opportunity to also talk to the people who gathered on adopting Plogging as a way of exercise and suggested that it can be undertaken as a way of routine to ensure a clean and garbage free city. The event was organised as part of Prime Ministers initiative of “Swachhata Hi Sewa” by the Ministry today. Several members of the NGO, CFAR also participated in the event.
Sh. Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary - MoHUA, encouraged everyone to take up plogging as a regular initiative. He said that picking up the litter should be carried out simultaneously with walking or jogging. “Self-littering should not be done and all the waste and litter should always be thrown in a dustbin nearby.” he added. Sh. Mishra also encouraged several shopkeepers on the way to take responsibility for throwing the waste in garbage bins only.
Enthused by the tremendous response, it has been decided that the next plogging drive will be carried out on 30th September, 2018 from Nehru Park, Chankyapuri to Yashwant place in New Delhi. About 300 students from Sharda Vakil School of Art and National Centre for Arts will also be roped in as volunteers on the occasion.
RJ/KGS
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PIB Headquarters
PIB’S BULLETIN ON COVID-19
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- 199.27 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
- India's Active caseload currently stands at 1,36,076
- Active cases stand at 0.31%
- Recovery Rate currently at 98.49%
- 16,482 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 4,30,28,356
- 20,139 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
- Daily positivity rate 
- Weekly Positivity Rate 
- 86.81 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 3,94,774 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
#Unite2FightCorona #IndiaFightsCorona
Press Information Bureau
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Government of India
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Modern Technology for Affordable Housings
Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban , a Technology Sub-Mission  has been set up to facilitate the adoption of modern, innovative and green technologies and building materials for faster and quality construction of houses in various States/Union Territories .The details of steps taken by Government in this regard are as follows:
- Under TSM, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs  initiated Global Housing Technology Challenge-India  with an objective to identify and mainstream innovative technologies from across the globe that are disaster resilient, sustainable, cost effective, fast and adaptable to suit different geo-climatic conditions of the country. Under GHTC-India, 54 innovative technologies from across the world were shortlisted in 6 broad categories.
- In order to demonstrate innovative construction technologies identified under GHTC-India, 6 Light House Projects  using 6 distinct technologies are being constructed in 6 States i.e. Madhya Pradesh , Gujarat ,Tamilnadu , Jharkhand , Tripura  and Uttar Pradesh for wider adoption and replication by housing and real estate sector.
- MoHUA is also undertaking Demonstration Housing Projects  in various parts of the country using innovative, alternate and sustainable technologies, in order to help their wider acceptability.
- MoHUA has also launched Affordable Rental Housing Complexes , a sub-scheme of PMAY-U for ease of Living for Urban Migrants/Poor. Under the Scheme, Technology Innovation Grant  of ₹60,000/- per house , ₹1,00,000/-  and₹20,000/-per Dormitory Bed has been provisioned for use of innovative emerging construction systems, which help in faster construction of ARHCs, better structural and functional performance.
- Around 16 lakh houses are being constructed using innovative and alternate technologies under PMAY-Uand other Schemes in various States/UTs.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Kaushal Kishore, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Power
PFC issues India’s first-ever Euro Green Bond
Power Finance Corporation Ltd , the leading NBFC in power sector, has successfully issued its maiden Euro 300 million 7-year Euro Bond issuance on 13.09.2021. The pricing of 1.841% achieved is the lowest yield locked in by an Indian Issuer in the Euro markets.
It is the first ever Euro denominated Green bond issuance from India. Moreover, it is the first ever Euro issuance by an Indian NBFC and the first Euro bond issuance from India since 2017.
The issuance saw a strong participation from institutional investors across Asia and Europe with a participation from across 82 accounts and was oversubscribed 2.65 times.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Online Portal For Vehicle Theft
Five States/UTs, namely Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, have provided the facility of online filing of e-FIR for complaints of theft of vehicles, mobile phones and documents wherein accused are unknown, through their State Citizen Service
Portals.
In order to facilitate States/UTs, National Crime Record Bureau has shared the source code and Standard Operating Procedure of the e-FIR module of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh with all the States/UTs for customising it as per their requirements and deployment at their State Data Centres  for providing online e-FIR facility to citizens.
This information was given by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.